Very cold / short gravel ride - due to snapped Specialized Seat Clamp

 

Well today is going to be the only day that is it sunny and not snow, rain, sleet etc so I took the Specialized Creo out for a very cold local loop. I set off from Broompark picnic area and I was going to do one of my regular loops - up to Stanley Crook, down to Crook, over to Willington then Bishop or left & back to Broompark. I was wrapped up with plenty of layers and my new Endura thermo bib tights. The lines were frozen solid and the Garmin was reading minus -4.2 degrees. I was just enjoying the sun coming through the tress when I heard a loud ping noise. My saddle had swung around. At first I thought I had snapped a saddle rail but it turned out to be the seat clamp had sheared. I had no trail side fix so turned and headed back riding out of the saddle for the 1.5 miles. Just as well I had only gone a very short distance. I keep a couple of spare cheapo clamps in my van for just this case. I thought it was going to be a 31.8mm as the seat post is a 27.2mm. I slipped it onto the frame and the gap was big. I turned over the snapped clamp and it was a 30.8mm, very odd size! oh well the new clamp was not going to tighten up enough for a temporary fix to get back out on the trails. 

I was only a couple of miles away from Infinity Cycles and knew they had Specialized and Creo's in stock but they never had a spare clamp. Luke was going to look into ordering one. 

So on the way back home I called in past Evans Cycles, again they never had a spare but they did offer me the use of the clamp from there demo Creo until I get one sorted but the demo was not in store today. So I headed back home and locked the bike away. Then I thought Bike Scene might have one, no Alan checked the whole shop and was very helpful in trying to sort a new one. Then as a last resort I rang Specialized Harrogate. Again very helpful but not a spare in the shop but Specialised UK warehouse has them in so he has ordered me a replacement and is going to pop it in the post. 

By all accounts it is a common fault and they snap in roughly the same place! Well looking at the forecast for the next 7 days i don't think i will be in a rush for the replacement, roll on next Wednesday.